Coin-controlled mechanism



N. (3. TOLL COIN CONTROLLED MECHANISM Filed May M/VE/VZ'UI? M 1.. TOLL AWWM Patented May 13, 1924.

UNITED STATES NILES 0. TOLL, OF MARTINEZ, CALIFORNIA.

COIN-CONTROLLED MECHANISM.

Application filed May 31, 1921.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, NILES C. TOLL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Martinez, in the county of Contra Costa and State of California, have invented new and useful Improvements in Coin-Controlled Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to coin controlled mechanism for vending machines, slot telephones and other apparatus of the coin in the slot type; and has special reference to simple reliable and inexpensive means for preventing us v of illicit coins in such machines.

The primary object of the invention is to provide means of the character described which may be readily incorporated with slot machines or the like, so as to prevent the depositing of counterfeit 0r illicit coins, commonly known as slugs, into the mechanism of the machine through coin receiving slots, the said means being small and compact and operating so that a counterfeit coin will be held in the intake end of the slot.

Another object is to provide means of the character described which will permit coins of a designated weight, or size, only to enter the machine, whereby in the event the coin is a live cent piece or: nickel, and an attempt is made to use a slug or counterfeit coin of the same size but of different weight the latter will not pass through but will be held in said means, there being provided means of adjustment for rendering the machine suitable for coins of different denominations.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for ejecting a counterfeit coin when the latter has been dropped into the slot and is held against dropping into the mechanism.

A further object is to provide guard means for preventing the insertion of a wire or other tool so as to force a slug into the mechanism which guard means must be moved into guarding position in order to provide for the release of the proper coin which has been inserted in the slot.

The invention possesses other advantages and features some of which, with the foregoing will be set forth at length in the following description where I shall outline in full that form of the invention which I have selected for illustration in the draw Serial No. 473,760.

ings accompanying and forming a part of the present specification. In said drawings I have shown one form of the construction of my invention, but it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to such form since the invention as expressed in the claims may be embodied in plurality of forms.

Referring to the drawings: Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view of the mechanism of this invention shown partly in side elevation. of the mechanism shown partly in rear'elevation. Figure 3 is a top plan view of the mechanism with the top or cover plate removed. Figure 4 is a. perspective view of the body piece of the mechanism. Figure 5 is a perspective view of the guard means.

Referring to the present embodiment of the lnventlon as shown in the accompanying drawlng 1 designates a box or casing which Figure 2 is a vertical sectional view is adapted to be suitably incorporated with the coin operated vending machines or the like and comprises front and rear walls 2 and, 8, side walls 4 and top wall or cover plate 5. The top wall 5 is provided. with a coin receiving slot 6 and the front wall2 with a coin ejecting slot 7 in line with the slot 6. 1

The mechanism of this invention comprises a vertically slotted bodymember or casting 8 mounted in the casing with its vertical slot 9 in registration with the slots 6 and 7, said slot 9 opening on the front edge of the body portion as well as at the upper and lower edges thereof so as to communicate with the'slot 'T. Extending at right angles to the body portion at the forward edge thereof is a flange 10 secured by fastening elements 11 to the front wall 2 so as to hold the body in proper position.

Guard means is operatively associated with the body and comprises a substantially U- shaped plate or strip 12 supported on a slide pin 14, which latter rests in a recess 15 on the inner edge of the body. The upper arm 13 of the U-shaped guard member normally body and normally lies beneath the'lower edge of the slot so as to prevent the coin from dropping through the body. Thepin 14 is slidable through an opening 15 in the adjacent side wall .4 and has a handle porthe U-shaped guard extends beneath the ill) tion 16 on its outer end to provide for the sliding thereof. Vhen the pin is pushed inwardly the lower arm 13 of the guard is moved out of obstructing position and frees the lower end of the slot 9. The inner end of the pin 14; is provided with a shoulder 17 reciprocally mounted in a cylinder 18 screwed at 19 into the opposite side wall 4. This shoulder operates against one end of anexpansion spring 20 housed within the cylinder and resistingthe inward movement of'the pin so as to return the same to normal position. A weight operated detent is disposed beneath the lower end of the slot 9 and comprising a lever 21 pivoted intermediately of its ends upon a pin 22 which pin is'screw threaded at its outer end as at 23 and screwed into a screw threadedopening 24 provided at the flange 10. One end of the lever is provided with screw threads 25 upon which a weight member 26 is adjustably mounted and the other end of the lever carries a detent plate 27 disposed between the lower end of the slot 9 and arm 3'. The weight of the coin upon the detent plate 27 overcomes the force of the weight 26 when the guard member is moved inwardly to release the coin whereupon the coin will drop into the mechanism not shown of the vending machine not shown. A coin or slug of a weight not sufficient to overcome the force of the weight 26 will not rock the lever sufficiently to be released by the detent plate 27. To provide for ejecting counterfeit coins after the same have been dropped into the slot of the body 8, there is provided an ejecting pin 28, slidable through an opening 26 in the rear wall 3 and through a small opening 30 in the outer wall of the recess 15, this pin also extending through a corresponding opening 31' in the body portion and into the slot 9. An expansion spring 32 is mounted upon the pin 28 and at its ends engages member8 and inner face of the wall 8 respectively.

Operation. 7

The slot- 6 in the top plate 5 and corresponding slot 9 in the body portion are of such size as to accommodate a coin of a given denomination such for example as a live cent piece. This, however, is more particularly regulated by the size of the slot in the body portion and the width of the slots 6 and 7 in the casing need not be limited whereupon the weight of the five cent piece will bear upon the detent plate 27. The weight 26 is set or adjusted so as to be overcome by the weight of the proper coin and said coin will, therefore, drop out of the slot 9 and into the mechanism not shown. lVhen the guard is pushed-inwardly so as to allow the weight of the coin to bear directly upon the detent 27 the upper arm 13 of the guard is brought over the upper side of the body portion and covers the slot 9. This will positively prevent the insertion of a wire or other tool through the slot 9. .In the event that a counterfeit coin, or slug of the same size as a nickel is deposited, unless said coin is of the same weight as a nickel it will not depress the detent plate and will therefore be held in the slot 9. "When this occurs the counterfeit coin or slug may be removed by the pushing of the pin 28 inwardly to engage the coin and push the same out of the slot 9 through the ejector slot 7. The ordinary counterfeit coin or slug made of the same size and thickness as a nickel is usually not equal in weight to a nickel and will not operate the mechanism. To adapt the mechanism for operation with coins of different denominations it is only necessary to adjust the weight 26 to the proper position and in some instances to substitute for the body portion. one having a wider and larger slot or smaller as the case may be. Due to the sensitiveness of said weight controlled detentmeans it is absolutely necessary that the counterfeit coin or slug correspond in weight to the proper coin before said slug or counterfeit coin can be made to pass through the slot 9 and into the mechanism; Inasmuch, as the weight of coins of a given denomination are substantially uniform it will be a diflicult matter to provide counterfeit coins to take the place of the legitimate coins for use in connection with the mechanism of this invention.

This invention made up and housed in a small casing or box as shown in the drawings, can be readily and easily attached to any vending machine or coin in the slot apparatus without necessitating any change in the construction or arrangement of the machine or apparatus. One of the essential features of the invention is its simplicity of construction and the manner in which the same is assembled and mounted within the boX or casing.

I claim 1. Coin controlling mechanism comprising a casing having a coin receiving slot in one wall thereof a member enclosed within the casing and having a slot extending therethrough so as to receive coins dropped in the first named slot, a detent member obstructing the passage of the coin through said last-nan'ied slot and movable out of obstructing position only by weight of a coin of predetermined denomination, a guard member normally preventing such movement of the detent and means for moving said guard member out of obstructing position whereby the full weight of the coin will rest upon the detent.

2. Coin controlling mechanism comprising a casing having a coin receiving slot in one wall thereof a member enclosed within the casing and having a slot extending therethrough so as to receive coins dropped in the first named slot, a detent member obstructing the passage of the coin through said lastnamed slot and movable out of obstructing position only by weight of a coin of predetermined denomination and a guard member normally preventing such movement of the detent means for moving said guard member out of obstructing position whereby the full weight of the coin will rest upon the detent and another guard member which will extend over said second named slot when the first named guard memher is moved out of obstructing position.

3. Coin controlling mechanism comprising a casing having a coin receiving slot in one wall thereof a member enclosed within the casing and having a slot extending therethrough so as to receive coins dropped in the first named slot, a detent member obstructing the passage of the coin through the last-named slot and movable out of obstructing position only by weight of a coin of predetermined denomination, a guard member normally preventing such movement of the detent, means for moving said guard member out of obstructing position whereby the iull weight of the coin will rest upon the detent, and means for providing for the ejecting of coins of insufiicient weight to operate the detent member.

4. Coin controlling mechanism comprising a casing having a coin receiving slot in one wall thereof a member enclosed within the casing and having a slot extending therethrough so as to receive coins dropped in the first named slot, a detent member obstructing the passage of the coin through said last named slot and movable out of obstructing position only by weight of a coin of predetermined denomination, a guard member normally preventing such movement of the detent means for moving said guard member out of obstructing posi- NILES 0. TOLL. 

